Aerial machine.



W. E. J. VAVASOUR.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,032,093. Patented July 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

his flitornqy.

W. E. J. VAVASOUR.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,032,093. Patented July 9, 1912.

I a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fin/anion W. E. J. VAVASOUR.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,032,093. Patented July 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTA'r s AT N -OFFICE.

WILLIA M EDWARD JOSEPH. VAVASOUR, OF. LONDON, ENGLAND.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 9, 1912. Application filed November 22, 1911. Serial No. 661,646.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, ILLIA EDWARD JosErH VAvAsoUR, baronet, a subject of the -King of Great Britain, residing at London,

England, have invented certain new and useful Improyements -1I1 Aerial Machlnes,

4 and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a flying machine of the aeroplane type, which is primarily characterized by the propellers, which are arranged laterally upon'both sides of the central body portion of the machine, being carried in laterally extending frames, which can be turned about their common axis and thereby-the axes of the propellers are varied in inclination relatively to the body port-ion of the machine, while the machine is fitted rearwardly of the propellers with laterally extending plane's which can be independently adjusted in their angle of incidence relatively to the main body of the machine. Thus the propellers, acting as tractors, arecapable of driving themachine through the air either horizontally or upwardly or downwardly and the angular direction of the axes of the propellers and theangle of;

incidence of the planes can be so. adjusted independently to each other and to the main body of the machine, that the air propelled by the propellers mayatthe will of the;

operator be projected either above or below, the said main planes or partly' above and partly below such planes.

In flying machines of the aeroplane type it has already been propesed to adjustthe angle of incidence of the main planes relatively to the framework ofthe machine, and

in other types of aerial machines it has also been proposed to adjust the angle of the axis of the propeller relatively to the body, of

the machine, but the present invention as.

so far briefly stated, is characterized by the fact that both the angle of the axes of the propellers and the angle of incidence of the planes can be each independently adjusted relatively to the framework ofthe machine so as to enable the draft from the propellers to be directed completely over, completely under or partly over and partly under such main planes. v

The laterally extending frames carrying the propellers .are each provided with a plane extending forwardly in th e plane containing the axes of the propellers.

lVithsuch an arrangement the invention.

further provides.means wherebyone or more at the forward air as well as a free exit to the rear, but the aviator is enabled to throw one or more of the propellers into and out of action at will on either side and thereby can turn the machine either to the right or left and obtain a greatly improved control and balance.

An example of construction of a machine according to this invention is shown on the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view, and Figs. 2 and 2 a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a diagram View taken through the engine well of the machine in order to show the location of'certain controlling devices hereafter described, Fig. 4 being a similar View particularly showing the means by which Q16 lateral frames carrying the propellers are given angular adjustment. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagram views illustrating positions of the propellers and planes.

Referring to 'the drawings, particularly Figs. l, 2 and 2 the machine is constructed with an elongated central body 1 whichis composed of a covered framework of any convenient construction or material, and is formed with an engine .well 2 which also accommodatesthe aviator andthe means by which the latter operates the various mechanisms hereafter described.

Extending laterally from each side of the body there are two frames 3, 4 and each frame carriesa propeller or propellers; in the drawing there are three'propellers 5, 6 indicated in each frame, the axes of the said propellers in plan View being, parallel to each other, although it must be understood that any number of such propellers may be fitted, or even a'single propeller in 'eacH'frame, but in the latter case such a single propeller should be located at the outer end of the frame, say at about the a position of the propeller marked 6.

Each frame is so mounted and carried by'the body l, that it can be turned about an axis extending through the length of the frame and as an example of mounting such frames I have illustrated each of the frames 3 and .4 as having an annulus 7 at its end,

see Figs. 1 and 2 which islocated in a bearing 8 carried by the body 1 within the engine well, the bearing -8 carrying anti friction balls so as to allow of the frames '3, '4 being angularly adjusted. about their" longitudinal axes with the greatest ease.

Any convenient .mechanical means may 5 be employed for angularly adjusting the said frames, as for instance each annulus 7 may have internal teeth 9 as shown at Fig. 4 engaged by a tooth pinion 10 on for instance a. crank shaft 11 extending across the en- 10 gine well 2. By this'means it will be observed that the aviator by revolving the crank shaft 11 can simultaneously adjust the laterally extending frames 3, 4 about their common axis, and thereby angularly adjust the axes of the propellers in a vertical plane in relation to the body of the machine.

Each propeller 4", 5, 6" is carried in bearings as aforesaidin'its frame 3 or 4 and is.

fitted with a helical toothed Wheel 12. Also carried in each frame 3, 4 is a revoluble drivin shaft 13 fittedwith Worms 14, 15 and 16, the worm 14 being less in length than theworni 15, and the latter less in length.v

than the worm 16. Each shaft 13 is capable of receiving en'dway motion, being coupled to a shaft 17 by means of a suit-able clutch, such as the sleeve 18 having a squared interior into which the squared end of the shaft 13 fits and can slide. The shaft 17 is shown as being driven by driving bands 19 from the engine 20, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Suitable meansare provided by which the shafts 13 can be slid endwiseindependently of each other, as for instance each shaft 13 is fitted with two collars 21 between'which a fork may engage connected by any well known link .or lever connections, not necessary to illustrate in the drawings, .with two levers 21*, one on each side of the aviators sea-t and by the operation of these levers the shafts 13 can be slid endwise and one or.-

- 14 are less inlength than the worms 15 and by a further movement of the shafts 13 the propellers 5 may be thrown out of operation or all the propellers may be thrown out 01' gear; and in returning the shafts after such adjustment it will be the outer propellers 6 .whidh will first come into operation and which latter propellers obviously have the most powerful effect in controlling the machine and reserving equilibrium. A

Each 0 theframes3, 4 has fixed to its front 'part a plane 22 which extends forwardly in a plane which will contain the axes of the propellers. v

Rearwardly of the propeller frames 3 4 two laterally extending planes are provided 111g one or other or both of. the shafts in which can be independently adjusted in their angle of incidence relatively to the main body of the machine. In the example shown each of these planes is of compound construction, that is, each "of said lateral compound planes rearward (of the propeller frames comprises a central fixed plane.23, to theforward edge of which is hinged at 24 a head plane 25 and to the rearward edge of which is hinged at 26 a tail plane 27. The central fixedplane 23 is supported by any suitable means from the body 1, and both the head plane 25 and the tail plane 27 are capable of being independently adjusted by theaviator as regards their angle of incidence, by means which are described hereafter by way of example.

It will be' understood that the laterally ex tending planes need not be of such compound construction but might be single rigid planes, turnable about an axis extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body of the machine, but the said compound construction is preferable.

The means shown for independently adjusting each of the tail planes 27 consists of a pulley 28 operable by a handle as shown (or by a lever) around which pulley 28 passes a flexible connection 29. One strand of the flexible connection 29, Fig. 1, passes over suitable guides and pulleys through a ring fixed at the upper end of an angular framework 30, Fig. '5, extending above the fixed plane 23 and passes, at 29", and is fixed to the tail plane at 31. Connected to this strandof the flexible connection 29 is a further length of flexible con:

.nection which passes through a ring on the upper end of the next angular framework '32 and extends at 33 also to the upper surface of the tail plane. -The opposite or lower strand of the flexible connection v29 passes through suitable guidesand from the lower extensions of the framework 30 and 32 to the lower rear surface of the tail plane. It will now be readily seen that by revolving the pulley 28 in one direction or.

the other the tail plane'will be either raised or lowered relatively to the fixed plane. Thus each tail plane can be'independently operated and its angle of incidence changed as the'operator may 'find requisite.

Pulleys 34 similarly operable by the aviae tor through the medium of handles or levers are'prov'ided (see Fig 1) which carry flexible connections for operating the 'head planes 25 in a manner exactly similar to the means already described for operating the tail planes, and which therefore it is unnecessary to describe in detail. 1

The body l of the machine at its forward part is-fitted with a nose guide 35. This nose guide 35 is'so mounted in the body 1 as to be turnable abouta vertical axis and thereby can be rocked to assist the lateral extending from the frames 3 and 4 may be hinged thereto so that their angles of inci' .dence may be varied irrespective of the angle of the frames themselves.

With the means hereinbefore described the propellers an the head and tail planes can be adjustedinto different angular relations with each other, thus in the diagram view at Fig. 5 the propellers and the head and tail planes are placed in relative posi tions' which would bring about a descent, the air current from the propellers passing mainly above the lateral floatage planes 23,

and 27, while at Fig. 6 the angular posi-' tion of the parts is such .as to cause the whole machine to rise, the main draft from carry each propeller,

the propellers in great part being driven under the whole of'the floatage plane and at Fig. 7 all the three members, that is, the propeller and the head and tail planes are in a'level position which would be the position when working normally.

The compound'floatage planes described present an important advantage that in the event of the stoppage of the engine, either if desired or accidentally, the head and tail planes can both be turned downward and act as a form of parachute to prevent the too precipitate descent of the machine.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fiyingmachine, the combination with a central bodyportion, two frames one extending laterally from each side of the forward portion of said body, a plurality of propellers, a propeller shaft to bearings in said frames to carry said shafts with their axes.

atright angles to the lengthway axis of said frames, means for carryingthe inner ends of said frames fromthe body of the machine and calculated to permit said frames to be angularly, adjusted about their lengthway axis to vary the inclination of the axes of the propellers relatively to the body portion of the machine, means for driving the propeller shafts and two planes one fixed to each of said laterally extending propeller carrying frames sald planes being located in a plane which contains the axis of the propellers and located on said frame .at the forwafd side of said propellers; of

a plane extending laterally from each sideof the machine and located rearwardly of the said propeller-carrying frames, means for connecting said planes':t o said body to permit said planes to be independently angularly adjusted to vary their angle of incidence relatively to the body of the malarly adjusted about their lengthway axis to vary the inclination of the axes of the propellers relatively to the body portion of the machine, and mea-ns for driving the propeller shafts; of two planes, one fixed to 1 and extending laterally from each side of the body portion of the machine and located rearwardly of said propeller-carrying frames, two rear planes one hinged to the rearward edge of each of said fixed planes, two forward planes one hinged to the forward edge of each of said fixed planes, and means operable by the aviator from the body of the machine forindependently adjusting said rear and forward spectively about their hinges.

Y 3. In a flying machine, the combination with a central body portion, two frames one extending laterally from each side of the forward portion of said body, a plurality of planes repropellers, a propellershaft to carry each in number to the propellers in the opposite frame the said propellers having their axes at right angles to the lengthway axis of said frames, means for carrying the inner ends of said frames from the body of the machine and calculated to permit said frames to be angularly adjusted about their lengthway-axis,.a shaft extending from the body portion into and through eachframe coin cident with the lengthway axis thereof, means for driving said shafts, .gearing to connect said shaft with each of said propellers to dIlVB thG latter, and means to first throw, the propellers adjacent to the body portion of the machine out of operation to next throw the next propellers out of operation and finally to throw the outer propellers. out of operation or vice versa to bring the outer propellers into operation and then the next inner propellers and so on; of two planes, one fixed toand extendportion ofthe machine and located rear- -wardly of said propeller-carrying frames,

two rear planes one hinged to the rearward edge of each of said fixed planes, two forward planes one hinged to theforward edge of each of said fixed planes, and means, operable by the aviator from the body of 'ing laterally fromeach side of the bodyv the machine for independently adjusting said rear and forward planes respectively about their hinges.

4. In a flying machine, the combination with a central body portion, twoframes one extending laterally from each side of the forward portion ofsaid body, a plurality of propellers, a propeller shaft to carry each propeller, bearings in said frames to carry a number of propellers in one frame equal in number to the propellers in the opposite frame the said propellers having their axes at right angles to the lengthway axis of said frames, an annulus fixedat the inner end of each laterally extending frame said annulus being concentric with the lengthway axis of each of said frames; hearings in the body portion of the machine to receive the said annulus of each frame calculated to support said frames and permit the latter to be angularly adjusted about their lengthway axis,

means operable by the aviator for revolving each annulus in its bearings, a shaft extending from the bodysportion into and through each frame coincident with the lengthway axis thereof, means for driving said shafts, gearing to connect said shaft with each of said propellers to drive the latter, and means to first throw the propellers adjacent to the body portion of the machine out of operation to next throw the next propellers out of operation and finally to throw the outer propellers out of o eration or vice versa; of two planes, one xed to and extending laterally from each side of the body portion of the machine and located rearwardly of said propeller-carrying frames, two rear planes one hinged tothe rearward edge of each of -said fixed planes, two forward planes one hinged to the forward edge of each of said fixed planes, and means operable by the aviator from the body of the machine forindependentlyv adjusting said rear and forward planes respectively about their hinges.

5, In a flying machine} the combination with a central body portion, two frames one extending ,laterally from each- .side of the I forward portion of said body, a plurality of propellers, a propeller shaft to carry each propeller, bearings in said frames to carry a number of propellers in one frame equal in number to the propellers in the opposite frame the said propellers having their axes at right-angles to the lengthway axis of said frames, means for carrying the inner ends of said frames from the body of the machine and calculated to permit said frames to be angularly adjusted about their "lengthway axis, a shaft extending from the body portion into and through each frame coincident with the lengthway axis thereof, a motive power engine carried in thebody portion of the machine for driving said shafts, a coupling connecting each of said shafts to the motive power engine said coupling being calculated to permit said shafts being given endway motions, means operable by the aviator from the body portion of the machine to give such shafts endway motions, worms peller shafts to revolve said propellers said worms being of varying lengths calculated to first throw the propellers adjacent to the body portion of the machine out of operation by the endway movements of said shafts passingv through said frames to next throw the next propellersout of operation and finally to throw the outer propellers out of operation or vice versa of two planes, one fixed to and extending laterally from each side of the body portion of the machine and located rearwardly of saidpropeller-carrying frames, two rear planesone hinged to the rearward edge of each of said fixed planes, two forward planes one hinged to tire forward edge of each'of said fixed planes, and means operable by the aviator from the body of the machine for independently; adjusting said vrear and forward planes respectively about their inges.

In witness whereof I ave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM EDWARD'JOSEPH VAVASOUK.

Witnesses;

MARGARET GIBBS, KITTY STRONG.

on said shafts and worm wheels on said pro- 70 l 

